Olympics: Dope tests put Chinese athletes out of Games

China has culled 27 athletes and 13 officials from its Olympic Games team after a series of positive tests for the endurance drug EPO.

Among those pulling out was women's singles sculler Zhang Xiuyun, who beat New Zealand's Sonia Waddell at the world cup regatta in Vienna in June.

Zhang was among seven rowers withdrawn from the team, a decision which confirms long-held suspicions and is a triumph for the new EPO drug testing regime, says Rowing New Zealand chief executive Mike Stanley.

"It's fair to say there have been some suspicions, but that's always difficult to translate into actual evidence," he said.

"It's always a bit surprising to see a group of athletes come without any previous performance history and then all of a sudden come up and perform very well.

"I think there has been difficulty with China in terms of getting testing completed in a satisfactory way - that is, without athletes being given prior warning and getting the right athletes in the right place [to] be tested."

The International Olympic Committee last month approved random blood and urine testing for EPO at the games.

Rowing, along with cycling, swimming and athletics, is considered one of the Olympic sports in which EPO would most benefit athletes.

Mr Stanley said the threat of tests in Sydney had obviously had an effect.

"Clearly with this testing regime being introduced, it means they [China] have reconsidered their position."

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates received a letter from Chinese officials saying the athletes had a blood index higher than the IOC standard, so the athletes were withdrawn to protect their health and to uphold the fairness of the Olympic Games.

The other sports affected are believed to be swimming, canoeing and athletics.

- NZPA

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